‘Idiot’: Lewis Hamilton ruined in total disaster, apology says it all

Lewis Hamilton has been given a public apology after an “idiotic” incident on a sad day at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Any slim hope Lewis Hamilton had of farewelling Mercedes in triumph has been blown to pieces after a disastrous day of qualifying at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

It was a very satisfying result for Aussie Oscar Piastri, who will start on the front row alongside McLaren teammate and pole-position winner Lando Norris.

However, the biggest story from the day was the misery that means Hamilton will have to produce a miracle to climb up into the points during Monday morning’s race.

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Hamilton finished the session 18th after his final hot lap was ruined by a stray bollard that was caught under his car and dragged around the circuit.

That hit only compounded an earlier blunder from Mercedes officials when the team left Hamilton’s final run too late.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff made a public apology to the seven time world champion for the tactical stuff up.

It was the third time in six races that he has failed to escape Q1. It is a sad way for it end for the partnership that is ending after 246 grands prix with the ‘Silver Arrows’.

“I messed that up big time guys,” a crestfallen Hamilton conceded on the team radio. “That was bad,” he added.

Lewis Hamilton has no luck. Photo: Getty and Twitter @fiagirly.

Hamilton’s demise came after he picked up a bollard - flicked into his path by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas - that was stuck under his car, creating imbalance and loss of pace.

After a record 104 pole positions, 78 with Mercedes, it was a sad qualifying finale for the seven-time champion before his move to Ferrari - and on a circuit where he has taken a record five poles.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff blamed “an idiot’s mistake” that led to Hamilton being sent out late to ensure he reached the second qualifying session when an errant bollard lodged under his car and wrecked his performance and lap.

As a result, he will start towards the rear of the grid for his final race with Mercedes before joining Ferrari next season.

“I just need to apologise to Lewis,” said Wolff.

“We totally let him down. An idiotic mistake not to go earlier. Inexcusable, inexcusable! I’ve rarely been so down about what has happened.”

He went on to make a public apology to his legendary driver.

“It doesn’t ruin the legacy we have, but I can only say sorry to him,” Wolff said.

Norris, meanwhile, hailed “a perfect day” after the McLaren front row lock up that has put the team within reach of a first constructors’ title since 1998.

Norris topped the times in one minute and 22.595 seconds to outpace Piastri by three-tenths of a second.

The end of an era. Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images.

Carlos Sainz, in his final weekend with Ferrari before leaving to join Williams, was third, 0.020 seconds behind Piastri as McLaren reeled off their third front row lockout of the season.

Ferrari need to overhaul a 21-point deficit to take the constructors’ title ahead of McLaren, but suffered a blow when Charles Leclerc was eliminated in Q2 and, with a 10-place grid penalty, he will start from the back of the grid on Sunday.

Nico Hulkenberg qualified fourth for Haas - before being hit with a three-place penalty - ahead of newly-crowned four-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, Pierre Gasly of Alpine and Mercedes’ George Russell.

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was eighth for Aston Martin, 24 hours after describing his car as “the worst ever”, ahead of Valtteri Bottas of Sauber and Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull.

“A perfect day for us,” said Norris who secured his eighth pole of the season.

“Probably a little tougher than before as we’ve been strong all weekend. My lap was strong too so it was just what we wanted from today.”

Lance Stroll was first out for Q1 in his Aston Martin as the sun set over the Yas Marina Circuit in clear conditions and temperatures of 25 (air) and (30) track, near perfect for the unprecedented 24th and final qualifying of the year.

McLaren's British driver Lando Norris (C) poses with McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri (R) and Ferrari's Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr. Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP.

After scrubbed laps for exceeding track limits by Perez and Franco Colapinto, Sainz went top as the Mexican’s lap was reinstated and Bottas took command shortly before Hamilton, on a desperate late lap, failed to make it.

In another incident, Russell was seen to run off track to avoid baulking Liam Lawson on a flying lap.

After much swearing on the RB radio channel, the stewards investigated and took no further action, a baffling decision a week after a similar issue had initiated Russell’s promotion to pole in Qatar where Verstappen was penalised.

Verstappen set the Q2 pace with an early lap in 1:22.998 and chose to relax as his rivals took second runs - Leclerc going top before his lap was deleted for track limits at Turn One.

This meant he qualified 14th but his penalty means he will start Sunday’s race at the back of the grid - a massive setback for Ferrari in their bid to overhaul McLaren.

Grid for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Front row Lando Norris (GBR) McLaren, Oscar Piastri (AUS) McLaren

2nd row Carlos Sainz (ESP) Ferrari, Max Verstappen (NED) Red Bull

3rd row Pierre Gasly (FRA) Alpine, George Russell (GBR) Mercedes

4th row Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Haas, Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin

5th row Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Sauber, Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull,

6th row Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) RB, Liam Lawson (NZL) RB

7th row Lance Stroll (CAN) Aston Martin, Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Haas

8th row Zhou Guanyu (CHN) Sauber, Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes

9th row Jack Doohan (AUS) Alpine, Alex Albon (THA) Williams

— with AFP

Originally published as ‘Idiot’: Lewis Hamilton ruined in total disaster, apology says it all